GLASGOW is getting ready to host the 'most exciting' MOBO awards yet, it was claimed today.

The Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards celebrate their 18th birthday this year, and founder Kanya King said she was thrilled to see the gongs return to Glasgow.

As she joined Soul II Soul legend Jazzie B as well as last year's performers Stooshe in the Blythswood Hotel to launch this year's event, Kanya said Glasgow, "feels like a home from home" for the MOBOs.

She said: "It's a city with a thirst for live music . We always feel really supported.

"MOBO wouldn't be where we are today if it hadn't been for the support of Scotland and Glasgow."

The event will be held in Glasgow's newest music venue, the Hydro, on October 19 with quartet Rudimental and Australian hip-hop star Iggy Azalea already lined up to perform.

Kanya added: "We're looking forward to some amazing performances and the fact that we've got this new venue is incredibly exciting."

Jazzie B, of Soul II Soul, won a MOBO at the first awards ceremony in 1996.

Jazzie said of his award: "It was a gateway to everything else that to happened to us in the industry.

"Subsequently, it's been nuts, and I do have the MOBOs to thank for that."

Wearing a red dress and heels, awards founder Kanya was presented with a bottle of champagne and an 18th birthday badge by London girl band Stooshe.

The girls said of the awards: "It's something that we've all grown up with and to be part of it, to let us perform, gave us something aspire to."

After the 2009 ceremony in Glasgow, Event Scotland and the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau secured a three-year deal with the show's organisers. The event is thought to boost the city's economy by £1m each year.

This year's show will be the first televised performance from the Hydro, and will be shown on BBC3, BBC1 and BBC World News, reaching a potential audience of up to 400 million people across the globe.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said "This is another fantastic achievement for the city to be able to attract the MOBOs for the third time.

"In terms of the number of attendances, we will be on a par with the O2 Arena in London and Madison Square Gardens in New York.

"It fits perfectly with the city of Glasgow."

Members of the public who want to get involved with the awards may be in luck, as the organisation will be looking for help with the production as October draws nearer.

Kanya said: "In many ways, we love to work with local people. We will be looking for people in all aspects of production; whether it's young people with digital knowledge or people working with other production aspects."

Stars who have previously debuted at the MOBOs include Rita Ora, and Aberdeenshire girl Emile Sande, who was a virtual unknown when she performed at the Glasgow ceremony with rapper Chipmunk in 2009. She was much better known – and had her trademark quiff – when she returned to perform with Professor Green in 2011.

The awards will return to Glasgow for a fourth time in 2015, when they will celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Tickets for the event go on general sale today from 1pm, with prices range from £25-£49.

See www.mobo.com.

GLASGOW was the first city outside London to host the sward show.

The MOBOs came to Glasgow in 2009 when the star-studded event at the SECC was hosted by Reggie Yates and Keri Hilson, with performances by Young Soul Rebels.

The red carpet was rolled out as music stars gathered for the spectacular event.

Michael Jackson, who passed away earlier that year, received an honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, collected by Jermaine and LaToya Jackson, with best UK Act snapped up by X Factor four-piece JLS.

DJ Trevor Nelson received the award for Best DJ.

Glasgow hosted the gongs again in 2011, when Boyz II Men performed to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

The band described the performance at the SECC as "very humbling" and were joined on stage by awards hosts Jason Derulo and Dancing on Ice winner Alesha Dixon.

Eleven acts performed on the night, including Tinchie Stryder and Dappy, who blew the crowds away with their performance of their single 'Number 1'.

The Voice judge Jessie J cleaned up in 2011 with four awards, including Best Newcomer, Best Album and Best Song, while Rihanna was voted the Best International Act.

Londoner Adele scooped the award for Best R&B/Soul Act.

The show, which took 435 staff and volunteers to organise was a sell-out, with around 7000 music fans, performers and industry figures attending the October event.

FULL marks if you recognised Emeli Sandi without her trademark blonde quiff. Back in 2009, she introduced herself on the MOBOs red carpet as Adele Sandi (Emeli is her middle name). She was there with rapper Chipmunk to perform Diamond Rings, which reached No 6 in the charts, but was beaten to the MOBO award for Best Song by JLS.

Two years later she was back at the SECC to perform Read All About, with Professor Green, left, but it was at last year's MOBOs she really cleaned up – winning Best Album, Best Female Act and Best R&B/Soul Act.